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Sandra Brown <br />March 7, 2012 Page 3 <br />discharge pipe designed and installed to alleviate the potential pressure head on the mountain <br />above the Bear Mine. MCC obtained approval from the Colorado Department of Public Health <br />and Environment (CDPHE) for the Lone Pine Gulch pipeline discharge point ( Outfall 013) to <br />discharge mine water from the NW Panels sealed sump to Lone Pine Gulch. Amendment No. 2 <br />to MCC's existing Colorado Discharge Permit System (CDPS) Permit Number CO- 0038776 <br />allowed for the new outfall for discharge of up to 0.072 MGD to Lone Pine Gulch, a tributary to <br />the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The quality of water within the sump was evaluated and <br />found to be of sufficient quality so as not to require additional treatment in a pond prior to <br />discharge to Lone Pine Gulch. Because the water quality was believed to be similar to that from <br />existing mine water outfall 011 due to its source, all effluent limitations and monitoring <br />frequencies were made the same for both outfalls. Amendment No. 3 effective May 1, 1997 and <br />expiring April 30, 2000 allowed MCC to increase outfall 013 effluent flow to 2,000 gpm or a <br />maximum of 2.88 MGD. The discharge pipe installed in Lone Pine Gulch was completed in <br />August 1997 and discharged mine water typically less than 500 gpm to the Lone Pine Gulch and <br />ultimately to the North Fork of the Gunnison River for a little more than two years beginning in <br />early January 1998. The pipeline was reclaimed and dismantled in approximately 2002. <br />Landslide Activity and Development of the Seep <br />The permit area of the Bear No. 3 Mine is located on the south side of the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River in an area characterized by steep mountainous slopes that are potentially <br />unstable. The Division has studied this area extensively. As described in a 1998 memo from Dr. <br />Jim Pendleton formerly of our Division, the mine permit area has been characterized by frequent <br />and extensive mass wasting events since 1983. The Bear Mine portals and portal fan were <br />damaged by mudflow events on several occasions. Rotational landslides have damaged the <br />portal access road and portal bench on several occasions. The valley slope above the mine site <br />evidences several large ancient scarps and an extensive mudflow complex. Two significant <br />landslides occurred at the site in 1996 and 1997. Numerous large, open scarps and tension <br />fractures above the landslide that occurred in 1997 have been identified and mapped by Wright <br />Water Engineers (WWE). <br />On March 30 and 31 of 1996, a landslide occurred above the Bear Mine access road which <br />extended vertically to the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The slide also extended <br />horizontally from the ventilation fan on the west into the ephemeral drainage east of the mine <br />access road. This massive slide destroyed the portal access drainage system and the slope <br />drainage monitoring system which included upper and lower French drains. In an investigation <br />by J.E. Stover & Associates, the cause of the slide could be attributed to water from either snow <br />melt and spring precipitation or other sources of groundwater that were not identified. <br />On November 17, 1997 the Division was notified of a slide located immediately west of the <br />reclaimed Bear No. 3 Mine portals. The slide became active on a Saturday, November 15 <br />Debris from the slide flowed onto the old coal stockpile pad (west of the reclaimed stacking <br />tube) and into the North Fork of the Gunnison River south of the mine access bridge. Shortly <br />after the slide occurred, water started flowing from the east side of the slide scarp. One warm <br />(approx. 85° F.) spring has flowed continually since November 17, 1997, two days after the <br />